Terry Jones: Pospisil has own travelling fan section

Vasek Pospisil was forced into the role of spectator as the Davis Cup tie opened against India instead of in his usual role of Canada No. 1, playing every day either in singles or doubles. But right behind him, on the Canadian bench, his brother Petr of Vancouver was in action as usual. Canadian soccer […]

Fans behind the Canadian bench during a match between Brayden Schnur of Canada and Ramkumar Ramanathan of India at the Davis Cup on Friday September 15, 2017 in Edmonton. Greg Southam / Edmonton Journal

Vasek Pospisil was forced into the role of spectator as the Davis Cup tie opened against India instead of in his usual role of Canada No. 1, playing every day either in singles or doubles.

But right behind him, on the Canadian bench, his brother Petr of Vancouver was in action as usual.

Canadian soccer has the Voyageurs and curling has the Sociables but Edmonton, which hasn’t played host to a Davis Cup in 21 years, had it’s first look at Canada’s touring fan supporters group Friday at the Northlands Coliseum.

For the past five years Pospisil’s brothers, Tom and Petr, have led the Canadian contingent to every international involving Canada around the world.

Pospisil, who is slated to play in his 15th Davis Cup tie as a doubles partner with legendary 45-year-old Daniel Nestor Saturday at 1 p.m., is 16-14 in his Davis Cup history, 7-5 in doubles. He’s won four of his last five singles rubbers. The two are ranked underdogs in doubles here against India’s Rohan Bopanna and Purav Raja.

Vasek is happy to have the vocal support, especially in this situation.

“They’ve been carrying us through a lot of matches since 2012. I believe they’ve been a huge part of our Davis Cup success. This team feeds off the energy of their cheering section. They really get the rest of the crowd into it,” he said of the group that calls themselves the Red & White Army.

They’re often referred to as Vasek’s Army, which they say is also acceptable.

In the beginning it was often an Army of one as father and son commuted around Western Canada in a used Winnebago RV. Vasek won his first national title in Edmonton. The Winnebego trips included driving from Vancouver to Florida for the Vernon, B.C., player.

They’re here with 21 Vancouver-based fans including Trevor Mills and Mike Lloyd, who were there in the beginning.

Edmonton isn’t much of a road trip for this contingent.

“We’ve been to Halifax twice and to Ottawa,” said Lloyd, who wears an orange clown hair wig with his red and white Canadian get-up.

“We’ve been to Tokyo,” said Mills.

“We’ve been to Halifax,” said Lloyd.

“Belgium,” said Mills.

“Amsterdam,” said Lloyd.

They’re missing one of the Pospisil brothers here.

“Tommy couldn’t get off work,” said Mills.

“We’ve been at least 20 strong everywhere we went,” said Lloyd.

“In Belgium we were 50 or so.”

They gathered over 200 for a Davis Cup tie held in Vancouver.

“We’re both teaching colleagues of Petr,” said Mills. “He’s the one who spearheaded it. The reason it started is that the Pospisil family is one of the nicest families you’d ever meet. It kind of went from cheering for Vasek to cheering for Canada.”

It’s not polite golf type of cheering. Or even Wimbedon cheering.

They’ve been called rowdy.

“I’d say that’s fitting,” said Mills.

“Enthusiastic. Spirited. I’ve been to other tennis events like the U.S. Open and they’re just completely different than the Davis Cup. It’s more like the World Cup of soccer. Cheering and stuff is more encouraged,” said Lloyd.

“This entire dream we’ve been on has been amazing. Just amazing,” said Mills. “We love taking pictures with opposing fans and countries. We’re cordial and we’re good sports. In Japan we lost but leaving the stadium it would take us one hour to walk one block. We took 500 Canada scarves. To give to kids. It was one of the most amazing experiences I ever had.”

The group has tickets directly behind the Canadian bench where Connor McDavid of the Oilers appeared to watch some of the action.

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